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Women's Issues

Since coming to Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has worked tirelessly as an advocate and leader for women. She has placed a special emphasis on women’s health needs, reproductive freedom, international family planning, and securing women’s equality in the Constitution.

Equal Rights Amendment: Congresswoman Maloney is the leader in Congress of the effort to pass an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. Read more

Breastfeeding: Due to significant health benefits for the mother and child, the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend six months of exclusive breastfeeding for all infants. Congress needs to do all it can to support mothers when they decide to breastfeed. Read more

International Efforts: Congresswoman Maloney has been a long-time supporter of the United Nations Population Fund, aiding global efforts to prevent and treat obstetric fistula, and passing the Afghan Women’s Act. Read more

National Women’s History Museum: In November 2016, a bipartisan Congressional Commission — created by a bill sponsored by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney — issued a report recommending the creation of a new Smithsonian Museum dedicated to women’s history. In March 2017, Reps. Maloney and Ed Royce (CA-39) introduced H.R. 19, the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act, to establish such a museum National Mall. The bill has broad bipartisan support, with 232 cosponsors. The bill number was reserved by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi as a symbol of one of the most important moments in women’s history—the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1919 granting women the right to vote. Read more

Gender Pay Gap: Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has been a steadfast leader in fighting for women’s rights, including closing the gender pay gap. A typical woman today, working full-time and year round, is paid only 79 percent of what her male counterpart makes. It is unacceptable that in the year 2016, women on the whole are not being paid fairly for their work. This is not merely a women's issue, it is an issue that affects every American family who is increasingly dependent on women's earnings. Read more

Reproductive Choice: Congresswoman Maloney is a strong advocate for a woman’s right to choose and an outspoken supporter of women’s reproductive rights. However, choice is meaningless without access. That is why she has been monitoring the efforts of the anti-choice establishment to devalue a woman’s right to choose and has been actively working against any legislative limits to access. Read more

Increasing the Role of Women in Corporate Boardrooms: In January 2016 Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) unveiled a new report from the Government Accountability Office, which shows women are severely underrepresented on corporate boards, taking up just 16 percent of seats in the boardroom. The study, which Maloney requested in May 2014, shows that even if the rate of women joining corporate boards were doubled, so they were hired at the same rate as men, it would still take at least 40 years (2056) for women to reach parity. Read more

Boko Haram: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is a fierce advocate of protecting both the rights and safety of Americans, and human rights internationally. Since Boko Haram’s capture of 267 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria in 2014, Congresswoman Maloney has supported the effort to #BringBackOurGirls, and supports international efforts to help eradicate the terrorist and anti-American organization, Boko Haram.

Equal Access to Discriminatory Clubs: In August of 2012, Congresswoman Maloney publically praised the Augusta National Golf Club's decision to admit former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore as members of the exclusive club that plays host to a Masters Tournament. Read more

Sexual assault in the military: Rapes and sexual assaults are far too common in both civilian life and in the military. Congresswoman Maloney has worked to bring justice to the military victims of sexual assaults through letters to the Department of Defense, nonpartisan studies, and legislation. As our soldiers are fighting for those who have long been denied basic rights, we should do everything possible to ensure that we are protecting their rights too.

Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act: Congresswoman Maloney has led the fight to have a day officially dedicated to the memory of an influential woman in the country’s history. The Congresswoman introduced the Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act in 2011, which would designate the third Monday in February as a day to celebrate the legacy of Susan B. Anthony. Susan Brownell Anthony is remembered for creating the first women’s movement in the United States and leading that movement for more than 50 years. Read more

Reducing the National Rape Kit Backlog: Congresswoman Maloney authored the Debbie Smith Act to help reduce the backlog of untested DNA rape kits. First passed into law in 2004, this bill has been lauded "as the most important anti-rape legislation ever signed into law," by the head of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. Read more

More on Women's Issues

NEW YORK: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY), together with Barry Scheck, National Legal Expert on the Use of DNA in Criminal Proceedings, and Debbie Smith, crime victim whose attacker was caught through DNA evidence, announced sweeping reform today, outside of Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, for the collection and processing of DNA in sex crime cases.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, on the U.S. House of Representatives floor, during debate on the Hyde/Smith amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act to reimpose the "Mexico City" policy, Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) stated that his amendment was "neutral" on abortion. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) released the following statement in response:

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, on the U.S. House of Representatives floor, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) delivered the following remarks in opposition to H.R. 503, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Mrs. Maloney served as a whip for the opposition to H.R. 503.

NEW YORK: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, spoke out today to highlight the extreme record of John Ashcroft regarding women's reproductive rights and women's health issues. Maloney joined Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health in New York to delineate reasoning for their opposition to the confirmation of Ashcroft for U.S. Attorney General. The following is the statement of Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), released at the news conference with Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health:

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens), Democratic Chair of the Congressional Women's Caucus, hailed the passage of the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill in the House, which will restore and increase the United State's commitment to international family planning. The successful bill raises USAID funding to $425 million, up from $385 million last year, and removes anti-democratic Gag Rule restrictions. Maloney released the following statement after the House vote:

NEW YORK: In the wake of the ghastly attacks on at least 24 women in Central Park this Sunday, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (Manhattan, Queens) and leading women's rights leaders condemned hate crimes today, and urged passage of three Federal bills that would establish a more comprehensive program to fight hate crimes and gender-related violence. Violent crimes motivated by gender bias, race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, disability, or national origin, are extremely unjust because they create a climate of fear that keeps a particular segment of society from participating fully and freely in society.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, joined by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, and moms who have been fired for breastfeeding on the job, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) announced that she has introduced the Pregnancy Discrimination Act Amendments of 2000. Maloney's bill clarifies the Pregnancy Discrimination Act civil rights law to protect women from job termination or workplace discrimination if they choose to breastfeed or express milk in the workplace.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This morning, after attending a press conference with Vice President Gore and Senate and House Democrats, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) released the following statement: